I Don't Know... And I'm OK With That.

Psalm 145:3 (NCV) - "The LORD is great and worthy of out praise; no one can understand how great He is." 

I find such comfort in this verse. I find comfort in knowing that I won't ever understand everything about the greatness of God or the truths of His scripture. Sometimes I get frustrated when I come across an aspect or a characteristic of God that I don't understand or feel is contradictory. I get frustrated when I don't understand it all. This verse really helps me to rest in knowing that it's OK for me to be frustrated. It's OK for me to ask question and it's even OK for me to never find all the right answers. The truth is that God in His greatness and in His relationship me is guiding me along on a journey to more greatly discover Him and His greatness. He may only ever show me glimpses, but He is here with me every step of the way. 

God thanks for helping me understand what I do understand about You and for being so much greater than I could ever understand. 

"Is Jesus President or King?" by Matt Willmington

I have the privilege of working with man amazing men of God. On of who is my superior's superior Matt Willmington. He just recently posted this blog and I wanted to share it with all of you. The words ring sad but true (not the Metallica song). Enjoy. 

As I recently wrote, its been amazing to see the outpouring of admiration and support for Barack Obama. His approval rating has dropped since he actually took office and began leading, but the honeymoon is still in full swing. People are desperate for him to be a great leader.

But even his fans probably wouldn’t want him to be the king of America. They still prefer him to be our president.

I’ve never met a president. My father has - Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. I had the chance to be in the same room with both of those presidents. And I once was in a crowded airport in the presence of the late King Hussein of Jordan.

There’s a difference between a king and a president.

• A president deserves an inauguration
• A king deserves a coronation

• A president governs a democracy
  
• A king rules a kingdom
  

• A president is elected when all citizens vote
  
• A king is voted in office by no one
  

• A president swears an oath [35 words to be exact]
  
• A king swears by his family name
  

• A president governs based on a constitution
  
• A king rules based on a bloodline
  

• A president hears the people raise their voice in opinion
  
• A king sees the people bend the knee and bow the head

The problem with many of us is that we sometimes treat Jesus as our president instead of our king.

We act as if His kingdom is a democracy, as if we get to cast a vote for His leadership, as if we can voice our opinion about His agenda, as if He should adjust His policies based on our wishes.

Our American Christianity has been infected with democracy and capitalism. Those ideas make for a great nation and economic system - but they are not the design of the kingdom of God.

Two scenes show this contrast: John 12 and John 19.

John 12 tells the story of Jesus followers celebrating His Triumphal Entry. He rides on a donkey from Mt.Olives into Jerusalem on a Sunday, fulfilling prophecy [Zechariah 9:9, Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 62:11]. They enthusiastically accompany Him, shaking palm branches and singing Psalms 118, “Hosanna!” They recognize Jesus as their king.

But five days later John 19 shows a violently different picture. Its Friday morning, in Pilate’s courtyard. A religious crowd, including the Jewish leaders, are crying out for Jesus’ crucifixion. “He is not our king!” These religious people - perhaps some of the same ones who at the beginning of the week had considered Jesus their king - were now treating Him like a president. He had disappointed their desires for a political, economic, or military solution to their troubles - and so they were “voting Him out.”

Jesus had threatened their power.

He exposed their sin, hypocrisy.

He ruined their religion.

The honeymoon was over.

Its amazing but true. Over time, passionate followers of King Jesus can subtly become religious voters, citizens who want Him to respond to their lobbying. But Jesus is a king, not a president. So how do we keep proper perspective?

Look back to John 12. The Sunday morning Mt.Olives crowd had these characteristics:

1. They knew scripture, and so they recognized the prophecy unfolding in front of them. If I stay focused on God’s Word it will always point my attention to the King.
2. They risked scorn or worse from the Romans to worship the King publicly and joyfully. If I practice reckless, passionate worship I will stay focused on the King.
   
3. They followed Jesus down the road towards the Temple. If I practice devout obedience, I will maintain my submission to the King

Where is your allegiance? Is Jesus king, or president of your life?

If you answered the latter, then its time for a Triumphal Entry into your heart.

"Megaecclesiatic Phobia" Or, A Fear Of Being Lost In The Crowd In Mega-Churches

I'm a pastor on staff and member of a mega-church. It's something I never thought I'd be apart of. I grew up in a church that was larger than most but by no-means "mega". I'm not sure I even knew what the term "mega-church" was or meant until I began attending a university that was a direct off-shoot of a mega church. To be honest my initial thoughts of the church itself were negative. After-all how could someone feel at home in a church this large, how could anyone get connected or be known? It wasn't until after college when a friend invited me one evening to come to this church and help out with the youth group that I got my first insight to how this whole system works. 

Upon walking into the recently built campus' main entrance I felt a bit like a survivor from Oceanic Airlines flight 815. The massiveness of the building itself was enough to make me feel a bit uncomfortable, I had no idea where to go and had it not been for the guidance of my friend I'm not sure I would have known where to go. We began walking through hallways and corridors, that I learned where actually hallways of the Christian Academy also an off-shoot of the church, and eventually ended up in a back gym where roughly 200+ middle school students were playing all kinds of games and running around screaming like the savage "others" on the island. I was beginning to feel like I needed to tuck tail and run. After all this type of thing wasn't for me, I knew God had called me into ministry, but I was hoping for something a bit smaller, a bit more controllable. It was at that moment the Middle School Youth Pastor came up and introduced himself to me. He made me feel welcome and immediately plugged me into a small group of guys to see how they worked together throughout the night. The gym was loud and noisy but the kids were eating it up and the leaders seemed to really care about them. It seemed like the hearts of everyone around me wanted me to feel welcome. By the end of the night I was signed up to try out as the lead guitarist for the worship band and continue on with the 6th Grade Guys small group. This was the beginning of the formation for my diagnosis of how to cure Megaecclesiastic Phobia = "A Fear Of Being Lost In The Crowd At Mega-Churches". 

Megaecclesiastic Phobia occurs when someone feels lost in the crowd at a mega-church. I don't necessarily mean physically lost but more so emotional, and spiritually. It's hard to make your way into large crowds of people and feel like you're doing anything besides going with the flow of the fish. Normally when I see a new leader or student walk into our youth room, we've since moved from the gym, almost always the first look I see is an expression of being overwhelmed. That's why we began to have leader and student greeters at our doors. In fact we do just about everything you can do to make sure that a new individual doesn't feel lost in our ministry. We have a personal greeter, along with a map of where everything is in the room (yes a map... it's a big place... hence mega.) We try to communicate everything from the stage in a way that is easy to understand for someone who hasn't been in church their whole life. Most importantly however we do our very best to get that new individual plugged into one of our Focus Groups. There are where the heartbeat of our ministry happen. It's where 250+ on a Sunday morning turns into small groups of 15-20 on a Wednesday night. (I know 15-20 is a little high but it's the best we can do with what we have.) These groups plug people into each others lives so they can hear about the love of Jesus and see it lived out together in community. It's a great and beautiful thing. 

Almost 2 years ago I was standing in the main entrance to our church campus feeling lost. Now through a series of divine appointments, I'm the associate pastor for the middle school department as well as the worship director for middle school and high school. I lead worship weekly for the middle school as well as handling the majority of the graphic design work for our ministries. All because someone stopped and took the time to make me feel part of what was going on. Someone made me feel important. 

This is the cure for Megaecclesiastic Phobia but it's not the complete story. There are many people I've seen walk in the doors and never make the effort to get involved. It's a sure fire hindrance to the cure if you're not willing to get involved and get your hands dirty. We forget sometimes that we don't go to church for us. We go to worship God. It's not about us at all. 

Just some thoughts. 

iPod Shuffle Study Playlist #2

My iPod on Shuffle during my reading and homework session: 

Song - Artist - Album

* = Great Song

iPod Shuffle Study Playlist #2

1. God Fixation - Petra - God Fixation

2. Feel So Right - Krystal Myers - Make Some Noise

3. K-9 - Embodyment - Hold Your Breath*

4. Pour Out My Heart - Insyderz - Skalleluia Too!

5. Future World - Gavin Rossdale - Wanderlust

6. Gotti Teiknadi - Sigur Rós - Agaetis Byrjun*

7. I Can Tell There Was An Accident Here Earlier - Saosin - Music On The Brain Volume 1

8. Talk Of The Town - MXPX - The Renaissance EP

9. PXPX - MXPX - Pokinatcha

10. Roots In Stereo - P.O.D. - Testify

11. Regret - Day Of Fire - Cut & Move

12. Silent Night - Damien Rice - O

13. ...Like The Dickens - Lugnut - ...Like The Dickens

14. Enslaved - The Working Title - About Face

15. House Of God, Forever - Jon Foreman - Summer EP*

16. The Remedy (I Won't Worry) - Jason Mraz - Waiting For My Rocket To Come*

17. The Race Of Standing Still - Zao - (Self-Titled)*

18. The Thing That Should Not Be - Metallica - Master Of Puppets

*** THE END OF BOOK 1 READING***

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

***THE BEGINNING OF BOOK 2 READING***

19. Heart In A Cage - The Strokes - First Impressions Of Earth

20. The Black Dress - Umbrellas - Umbrellas

21. Fire Of Heaven / Altar Of Earth - Matisyahu - Youth

22. Why Can't You See - Saosin - The Grey EP*

23. Cut That City - The Mars Volta - Tremulant

24. Chase This Light - Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light*

25. Better Off - Ashlee Simpson - Autobiography

26. Stars & Clouds - Stavesacre - Friction*

27. Intro (I've Had Enough) - David Crowder Band - B Collision

28. Time & Confusion - Anberlin - Never Take Friendship Personal*

29. Oh God, Where Are You Now? (In Pickerel Lake? Pigeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?) - Sufjan Stevens - Michigan*

30. Vasoline - Stone Temple Pilots - Purple

31. Secret Kingdom - Newsboys - Go|Remixed

32. Shiver - Coldplay - Unplugged*

33. Stars - LaRue - LaRue

34. Fame (What She's Wanting) - SR71 - Now You See Inside

35. A Beautiful Mess - Jason Mraz - We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

36. With Every Light - Smashing Pumpkins - MACHINA/The Machines Of God*

37. Heaven Forbid (Live) - The Fray - Acoustic In Nashville: Bootleg No. 2

*** THE END OF BOOK 2 READING***

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

***THE BEGINNING OF BOOK 3 READING***

38. I Am One - Smashing Pumpkins - Gish

39. Drain You - Nirvana - From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah

40. You Carried Me - Building 429 - Iris To Iris

41. Finger Twist & Split - Cute Is What We Aim For - The Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch

42. Here's To The Night - Eve 6 - Horrorscope

43. Hip-Hop Announcement - T-Bone - Gospelalphamegafunkyboogiediscomusic

44. 65,000 Miles Later - Hangnail - Facing Changes

Airwalker

These are my shoes. They are the only pair of Airwalks I've ever owned that fit me. In high school and middle school Airwalks were the junk. I looked everywhere for a pair. Every time I went to a shoe store I checked it out. The problem is at that time they only came in the the max size of 13. I wear a 14+. Some size 13's I can squeeze into but, no longer. My mom and I looked everywhere, stopped in every shoe store all to no avail. 

Anyway, shortly after Kristin and I were married we found this pair of Airwalks in a Payless Shoes in the mall here in Lynchburg. They were on sale and a size 13. Reluctantly reliving my childhood drama I picked up the pair and put them on. To my surprise they fit perfectly. My childhood fears were washed away and I was so excited Kristin bought me this pair of shoes. I wore them everywhere. Then I began to look at them more closely. They don't really go with anything unless it's a black band tee shirt and tight jeans and stud belts. Nothing wrong with those things (minus the tight jeans), but it's not where I am anymore fashion-wise or what not. I began to slowly not wear them as often. I put them on this morning and then after walking around a bit I switched them out for my solid navy slip-ons. How could a shoe that I was so excited about slowly become the shoe I put on when I'm going to get dirty. 

I wonder if we do this to God. Where God, when we first hear about Him or come to know Him is the best thing that could be happening. He's the thing we want the most over anything. And when we get Him we wear Him around for all to see. We tell others about Him and we're super excited and proud of our relationship with Him. He begins to be replaced by other things that grab our hearts. And before we realize it, He's stuck in the closet and we only pull Him out whenever we get dirty and need someone to take our junk from us. 

May God never be turned into a pair of lawn-mowing shoes. 

May He always stay at the front of our hearts and our minds. 

May He always be the most important thing. 

The Continuing Case Of The Disappearing Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger Man

It's been a few days since I blogged and this is something I must resolve. If you read my last blog about the "curious" case of the disappearing Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger man, then this will make sense. If not you're wasting your time. Go read that post then start back here. * 

I had just finished posting my last blog and packed up my macbook to go home for the evening from work when I got a call from Liberty Tax Services on my office phone. Liberty Tax Services is pretty much right next door to Wendy's. I answered the phone and low and behold "Joseph" the disappearing cheeseburger man was on the line. 

"Is this Michael?" "This is Micah, how can I help you?" "Michael it's Joseph. From the Wendy's." "Joseph! Dude, I had a cheeseburger for you where did you go?" "Well you gave me this number and told me to call you later." "I told you to call me later about a possible job opportunity. I also told you to wait so I could get you a cheeseburger." "But, you told me to call you later." "Yeah and to wait so I could get you a cheeseburger." "Oh." "You missed out Dude." "Oh." "Yeah." 

The conversation continued like this for a bit and I ended up giving him the number of a friend of mine who I worked construction for a couple of summers ago. I told him I wasn't sure if he had work, but I knew if he did have work he could most certainly use the help. I told him, I know it's not a roof over your head right now but, maybe it's a start of something good for you. 

I told him I'd be praying for him. He thanked me and quickly hung up the phone. The truth is that I may never hear from Joseph again. I may never see him again in my life. That doesn't matter. What matters is when Jesus says in Matthew 25 that whatever I do to the "least of these" I do for Him. I'm pretty sure Jesus isn't suggesting that opinion but rather He's stating it as fact. It's the consistent lifestyle of loving God and loving people... or at least trying my best to do that. 

When you pray today if you could remember Joseph that would be awesome. I'd really appreciate it but, I know he's appreciate it more. Blessings.

The Curious Case Of The Disappearing Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger Man

So today my wife and I had the privilege of eating lunch with a good friend at Wendy's. After we were done eating and had gone to our cars a gentlemen came up to my window and wanted to talk to me. I rolled my window down a bit and he proceeded to tell me his story of how he had lost his job and his car and apartment and just wanted to know if I could get him something to eat or give him some change for bus fair to the Salvation Army. I told him I could get him a cheeseburger. So I drove through the drive-thru got him a burger and came around the other side to give it to him and he was gone. I drove up and down Wards Rd. for a bit looking for him when Kristin called and said she saw him down the road at the bus stop in front of the Cash Advance. I drove out there... and yet again he was gone. I was riding around in my car getting really frustrated, I was trying do the right thing here. I was trying to "Love God. Love People." I was late for a meeting and the time for my next class to start was drawing close. Where did this guy go? It's like he disappeared off the planet. As I drove back to work feeling a bit defeated, I just prayed. "God please get that guy something to eat." I hope he does. I ended up giving the burger to a student who hadn't eaten lunch yet. Maybe it will all work out ok anyway. It's just really cold out... God please take care of that guy. I didn't even get his name. 

President Obama & Abortion

Left (Sculpture by Kelly Levesque) Right (President Obama's Change Speech)

From the Liberty Counsel
January 20, 2009
www.LC.org

Washington, D.C. – Today, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America. His inauguration is sandwiched between two other important days in American history: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the 36th Anniversary of the Supreme Court’s abortion decision in Roe v. Wade. As this Nation celebrates its progress made in regard to racial equality, the struggle to protect innocent human life just became more intense. 

Barack Obama has indicated that a few of his first acts as President will be to rescind the Mexico City Policy, thereby providing federal dollars to fund abortion worldwide, and reversing the policy on funding embryonic stem cell research, thereby providing federal dollars to create and destroy human life. The Mexico City policy was first instituted in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan to stop federal funding of abortion in foreign countries. In 1993 President Clinton reversed the policy, and in 2001 President Bush reinstated the ban on abortion funding. After taking office, President Bush said: “It is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortions or advocate or actively promote abortion, either here or abroad.”

In 2001 President Bush limited federal funds for medical research using human embryonic stem cells. This policy was reaffirmed by executive order in 2007, when President Bush called for research with pluripotent stem cells derived without creating human embryos for research purposes or destroying or discarding human embryos or fetuses.

The rescission of these two policies by President Obama means that federal taxpayer dollars will be used to destroy innocent human life.

Mathew Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “Today we celebrate the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the first black President of the United States. The history that was made today cannot be underestimated in terms of racial equality. Along with the triumph today, there is tragedy. We have taken one step forward for racial equality but two steps backward for life. President Obama promised hope for all Americans. Yet, this does not apply to our most vulnerable. While President Obama condemned the killing of children by terrorists, forcing Americans to fund abortion worldwide will kill more children than Al-Qaeda. President Obama said he wants to hear from the American people, but the unborn have no voice. A president for all the people must also include the unborn.”

969 Years, And Then He Died.

Genesis 5:27 (NCV) - "So Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died." 

Is that it? 

So Methuselah was the oldest man to ever live... and? 

Then what? 

So what? 

God, when I die please let more be said about what I did for You with my life.

Let there be more on my gravestone than the lines : 

"So Micah lived a total of ____ years, and then he died." 

I don't about Methuselah's life. 

I don't know his experiences or how his relationship with God was. 

All I know is that he lived and he died. 

I want my life to be more than that. 

If this life really is but a breath, I want to make my inhale and exhale as much as they can be.

What about you? 

Are you content just being? 

Are you OK with just existing? 

Do you want to do something more with your life? 

Then go. 

Boxing Up God In Pages & Ink

I am wondering when we decided we could box God up in text books and decide He would be OK with it. I mean.... where do we get the right to decide how God gets to be God? The more and more I read textbooks on theology and about how God has to do this and has to do that.... I just get this sense of... did God weigh in on this? Is He OK being told we He can and can't do? I mean He is God right? This is more me ranting than anything else.... I think.... I just..... where did we lose our awe factor of God? When did God become something we get entertained by on Sunday mornings in large auditoriums with plush seats? Did Jesus model that?....... God help me to not box You up in my heart and life. It's my prayer you would dwarf my cynicism if it's not of You and that You would organically grow and move in my heart. Make my heartbeat Yours God. 

Twenty-Five Random Things

I know this is one of this things I would normally ignore and never do. 

Sometimes I just cave.... : ) 

1. I have the entire series of X-Files on DVD. It's my favorite series ever. 

2. One of my favorite movies is Josie & The Pussycats. Great music.

3. I'm a sucker for 80's Hits. 

4. I really like the way American Apparel Tee Shirts feel. 

5. I can't read music. 

6. My hair has been hot pink. (Think Gwen Stephani during No Doubt in the late 90's.)

7. I like to smell books and magazines. 

8. I still own an original Nintendo Entertainment System with a Game Genie. (It's for sale.)

9. I own every book in the original Goosebumps books series by R.L. Stine. 

10. I once opened for Thousand Foot Krutch. 

11. I've eaten snails. 

12. My favorite childhood toy was a stuffed animal named Alice. She is a Snuffalufagas. 

13. I used to pretend I was the X-man Nightcrawler. Then the movie came out at he was dumb.

14. I'm a big Ted Dekker fan. 

15. I've always wanted a tattoo yet still don't have one.

16. I once pierced my ears with magnetic earrings in high school. 

17. I used to sing for the metal band More Than Living. (Think Luti-kriss and Sever Your Ties.)

18. The world could have been black and white.

19. I normally sit down and write a song in about 5 minutes. 

20. If it takes long than 5 minutes to write a song... normally the song stinks. 

21. I clean my ears with Q-Tips almost every day. If I don't.... I feel weird. 

22. I'm still trying to beat Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii. 

23. I secretly wish I was Peter Petrelli before he lost all his powers. 

24. Benjamin Linus is my favorite villan ever. 

25. I'll be 25 on July 6, 2009.

The Hardest Part

The hardest part of ministry is seeing people fall. It's watching those you've put faith and trust in stumble, and walk away from what God has called them to. What do you then? When you see a friend making those mistakes? You have to be the reigns that bloody the horses mouth. It's where accountability reaches it's most difficult but, possibly it's most necessary point. To pull back hard on a friend that may not even see how much destruction they are causing personally and to those around them. It's the hardest part...

My iPod Shuffle Songs Study Playlist:

When I'm studying I normally put my iPod on shuffle and just listen for background noise. So tonight I thought it would be interesting to record the playlist. If you like this kind of thing enjoy, if not be bored with enthusiasm. : ) 

* = great song

My iPod Shuffle Songs Study Playlist:

Song - Artist - Album

1. Redemption - August Burns Red - Messengers

2. Crush (Mandy Moore Cover) - Noise Ratchet - Punk Goes Pop

3. What You Are - Audioslave - Audioslave

4. Awful - Hole - Celebrity Skin

5. The Call - Backstreet Boys - Black & Blue

6. Softer To Me (Acoustic) - Relient K - The Creepy EP*

7. Nobody Knows - Live - V

8. Rebuild (feat. Matt T. of Relient K & Dustin of Ruth) - Switchfoot - Appetite For Construction Tour Single

9. Firewater - Yellowcard - Punk Goes Acoustic

10. I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever (New Version) - Delirious? - The D:finitive Worship Experience

11. What You Are - Dave Matthews Band - Everyday

12. Where Your Heart Belongs - Mainstay - Become Who You Are

13. Prepare Ye The Way - Caedmon's Call - Long Line Of Leavers*

14. Bottom Feeder - Project 86 - Truthless Heroes

15. Lest We Die - My Epic - I Am Undone*

16. Here I Am - Sever Your Ties - Safety In The Sea

17. You Will Always Be - Kristian Stanfill - Hello EP

18. You Always Said Goodnight, Goodnight - The Juliana Theory - Emotion Is Dead

19. We're So Far Away - Mae - The Everglow*

20. Awake - Secondhand Serenade - Awake

21. From Underneath - Hawk Nelson - Letters To The President

22. Rabbit Funk - Shane Newville - Formless

23. You Could Be The One - Bethany Dillon - Waking Up

24. Signals Over The Air (Live At The Starland Ballroom) - Thursday - Kill The House Lights

25. Caveman Jam - Project 86 - Rival Factions

26. Forever For Her (Is Over For Me) - White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan

27. This Bitter Pill - Dashboard Confessional - The Places We Have Come To Fear The Most

28. All Bodies - Between The Buried And Me - Alaska

29. In Silence We're Breathing - Between Faith And Thought - 06-07 Demos

30. Thought's On Love's Mishaps - The Working Title - Everybody Here Is Wrong*

31. My Love Goes Free - Jon Foreman - Fall EP*

32. Hallelujah - S.E.E.D. (Stomping Evil Every Day) - Snow Hill EP

33. Act Of The Apostle II - Belle And Sebastian - The Life Pursuit

34. The Great Houdini - New Found Glory - Sticks And Stones

35. Another Night In The Hills - Gavin Rossdale - Wanderlust

36. 'Till I See - Hillsong London - Jesus Is Remix

37. The Invitation - Petra - God Fixation

38. Rescue Me - Krystal Meyers - Krystal Meyers

39. Life Of Praise - Casting Crowns - Casting Crowns

40. Sunset Blvd. - Lucerin Blue - Tales Of The Knife

41. Nebula (Live In Chicago) - Incubus - Look Alive

42. Haven - Blenderhead - Songs From The Penalty Box: Volume 3

43. Petty Larson - Lutikriss - Throwing Myself

44. Blood Runs Forever - Scary Kids Scaring Kids - Scary Kids Scaring Kids

45. Bad Seed - Metallica - Reload

46. Speak To Me - Rebecca St. James - God*

47. Come On Get Down - The Rock N Roll Worship Circus - Welcome To The Rock N Roll Worship Circus

48. We Will Overcome - Thursday - A City By This Light Divided

49. Let You Down - P.O.D. - Testify

50. Lovely - Breathe Carolina - It's Classy Not Classic

51. Heretics - Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha

52. Out From Under - Britney Spears - Circus

53. City Beneath - Revis - Places For Breathing 

54. Dandelion - Audioslave - Out Of Exile

55. Homebrew - 311 - Greatest Hits '93-'03

56. The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts - Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise*

57. As Ugly As I Seem - The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan

58. You're Not Alone - Saosin - Saosin*

59. Into Jesus - dcTalk - Supernatural*

60. As Your Voice Fades - Emery - The Weak's End

--- Time For A Dr. Mario Break---

60 great tunes, 174 pages of reading, 2 discussion board posts, 4 thread replies, 4 different books, 1 long night of homework and music. 

Thanks for listening. 

Blessings. 

Psalm 43 - Screaming At God.

Psalm 43, "God defend me. Argue my case against those who don't follow you. Save me from liars and those who do evil. God, you are my strength. Why have you rejected me? Why am I sad and troubled by my enemies? Send me your light and truth to guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to where you live. Then I will go to the altar of GOd, to God who is my joy and happiness. I will praise you with a harp, God, my God. Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I should put my hope in God and keep praising hi, my Savior and my God." 

In verse 2 of the chapter I think we see the Psalmist writing in a place that many of us of the Christian faith often find ourselves. He starts with "God you are my strength." A statement of fact and of hope and of reassurance. It's what he's holding to. Then it's followed immediately by, "Why have you rejected me? Why am I sad and troubled by my enemies?" Don't we all say these things at one point or another in our spiritual journey? One minute we're are praise God and thanking Him for His strength and the next.... we are asking God "Where did you go God? Where are you? Were you ever there?" We begin to doubt who God is in our lives. We begin to doubt His sovereignty and His authority in our lives. 

When these questions arise we should respond as the Psalmist does in the verses that follow. He begins to ask God to "Send me your light and truth to guide me." He stops pointing fingers and begins to look in the mirror. He is asking God to show Him the way. He begins to praise God with song. He focuses his heart toward His Father. 

Does doing this necessarily mean that everything is going to be alright after that? Certainly not. In verse 5 the Psalmist again writes "Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset?" He concludes however, that no matter how bad it's gotten, no matter how sad he is that "I should put my hope in God and keep praising him, my Savior and my God." He finds hope in the One who gives hope. He finds saving grace and peace in the Savior and Prince of Peace. 

Today maybe you are crying out to God in a similar fashion. Screaming to the heavens with accusations about God not being there and your world falling apart. May you stop pointing fingers, look in the mirror, and remember that this is not your world. It's God's. And may you rest in the fact that He loves you beyond what you can comprehend. May you find hope in Him. 

Blessings. 

CD Ripping

I've started going back through some old CD books to rip my CD's to my iPod. This has been a really long process. Not to mention I've done it before... not long ago iTunes freaked out while I was updating my iPod and it erased everything on my 160 GB iPod Classic. I had 150 GB's full at the time... yeah I was ticked. So I'm slowly going through each CD and ripping it to iTunes, finding the album art and dropping it on the pod. 

It's interesting seeing those old CD's. There's some stuff I listened to a long time ago that I forgot I even own

ed. There were two CD's tonight that really stuck out. The first being "Spice Girls: Spice".... yeah. My face probably looked like yours does right now... shocked. I can't even remember purchasing the CD. 

The next was "Six Feet Deep: The Road Less Travelled" This is the first Christian metal band I ever heard. After listening to the album, it's not great... but man.... memories. I was singing along with the songs before I knew what hit me. The thing that hit me was my cat Chai running across the room after Ginger. They hit me in mid run. What a bundle of furry fury. Yikes. 

Anyway. That's a small look at the craziness of this blog post. 

Anyone else been through a time like that? 

What are some songs or albums that resonate with your memories and that you love every time you hear them? 

How about any guilty pleasure or shock factor albums? 

I guess that's about all for this post. Blessings. 

So This Is New

I've started a blogspot.... we'll see how far down the rabbit hole this one goes... : )